Temple of Demeter

"Located on a hilltop in a fertile valley near the village of Sangri, the Temple of Demeter dates back to around 500 BC. Dedicated to the ancient goddess of harvest and agriculture, the temple is a reconstruction of the original, rebuilt in the late 20th century using the original marble which was quarried on the island. It is one of the earliest examples of Ionic-style architecture. After its construction in 2,500 BC, the temple remained in use for a few centuries. The rise of Christianity led to its decline and its materials were gradually reused for the construction of other buildings. A Christian church is said to have stood on the current site over 1,000 years ago which likely used materials from the temple. Though not complete by any stretch of the imagination, the Temple of Demeter has been reconstructed to give an impression of how it may once have appeared. There is a small museum nearby that has artifacts and invaluable information related to the temple, its uses, and more. This is just one of the many excellent ancient sites to see on the island of Naxos. Be sure to include it in your itinerary for an authentic and historic Greek experience."

"It makes sense that any temples dedicated to the goddess of grain would be situated near farmland or, at least, what was once considered fertile ground. In this case, a lush valley just south of Sangi village. The temple itself is pre-Acropolis, dating to 530 B.C. It was discovered in 1949 and has since undergone extensive restoration. Read up on Demeter before making the visit—it goes a long way toward bringing the temple to life."